Lithuania’s Ministry of Transport published in December the feasibility study elaborated by AECOM according to which the development of the Vilnius Section will increase the financial value of Rail Baltica project.
UK and Finland consider participation
Rail Baltica will provide connection between the three Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia), as well as with Finland (Helsinki), through a rail-ferry line. The EU institutions are considering this project to be a strategic long-term project aimed at developing freight and passenger transport between the Baltic States, Poland and the rest of the EU countries. Moreover, modernised railways will permit an efficient connection between Baltic countries and the countries in Northern Europe, especially Finland, and with Central Asia on the long-term.
In October 2014, the transport ministers of the three Baltic Countries set up a JV to implement the project. “I am persuaded that signing this contract will ensure the implementation of the Rail Baltica, one of the major railway transport projects. This important railway will be a bridge between Europe and the Baltic States and will help boost economic development”, declared Latvia’s Minister of Transport, Anrijs Matīss.
The total length of Rail Baltica is estimated at 728 km, passenger trains could run at speeds of 240 km/h and the average speed will be of 170 km/h. According to estimates, the project would be finalised in 2024.
At present, the main objective is that, in the near future, the project would be presented to the European Commission for the financing of Rail Baltica 2. In fact, the deadline for the presentation of the project is the end of February.
Over the last period, the authorities in the countries members of the Rail Baltica had several reunions with different companies to present the project and be involved in its development. In January, companies from Great Britain that implement international railway infrastructure projects met with representatives of Lithuania’s Ministry of Transport. “UK rail industry is valued for its contribution to implementing large-scale strategic projects. I have no doubt that expertise offered by the UK companies can be useful for Lithuania personally and the three Baltic States participating in the Rail Baltica project as well”, said Saulius Girdauskas, Vice-Minister of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Lithuania.
Also, Latvia’s Minister of Transport, Anrijs Matīss, in a meeting with his counterpart from Finland, Paula Risikko, launched an invitation to Finland on the active implication in the standard-gauge project, Rail Baltica, and within the created JV. “We have proposed Finland to be part of the Rail Baltica JV”, Matīss declared.
The Vilnius – Kaunas spur
The Vilnius connection to Rail Baltica has been a highly debated topic by the authorities of the countries involved in this project. Most of the times, comments around this topic have varied between “for” and “against”. The feasibility study on the implications of the Vilnius connection to Rail Baltica was presented in October 2014. The study was officially published by the ministry in December 2014. The study was elaborated by AECOM and underlines the economic importance of developing the Vilnius connection.
Initially, SWECO elaborated the feasibility study (from the Lithuanian Government) and presented several options for this connection:
Alternative A: Rail Baltica North-South line via Kaunas, with a Vilnius – Kaunas Spur
– Sub-alternative 1: new track parallel to the existing Russian gauge line
– Sub-alternative 2a: new track connecting the southern part of Vilnius with the northern part of Kaunas
– Sub-alternative 2b: new track connecting the southern parts for both cities
– Alternative B: Rail Baltica North-South line from borders with Poland to Panavežys via Vilnius
The study concluded that Sub-alternative 2a is preferred for the implementation of the project. Following this conclusion, AECOM and SWECO met and detailed Sub-alternative 2a by investigating several alternatives whose result would be a shorter distance, as well as providing different approaches for connections with Kaunas Airport and Vilnius Central Station. The study evaluated the feasibility of including an east-western section between the centre of the Kaunas city (Lithuania) and the centre of Vilnius within the Rail Baltica scheme. In the direction of the section, there will be stations in the centre of Vilnius, Vilnius Airport, Kaunas Airport junction point and Kaunas city centre. Passengers can shift to the north-south connection of Rail Baltica at the Kaunas Airport station.
A capital cost worth EUR 845.5 Million was estimated for the section route, while costs for the acquisition of necessary land amounted to EUR 21.4 Million resulting in a total of around EUR 867 Million.
From the point of view of the infrastructure, Rail Baltica Kaunas – Vilnius Spur will connect the south of Vilnius to the north side of Kaunas with a standard-gauge railway. 8 stations are necessary (Vilnius City Centre –VIL; Vilnius Airport –VNO; Kaunas Airport-KUN and Kaunas City Centre -KAU). The Rail Baltica North-South Line hub will be located at Kaunas Airport.
Regarding the passenger flow, the section between Kaunas and Vilnius airports is estimated to attract 10,662 passengers/day in 2020. Most of them (71%) are passengers who travel between Kaunas and Vilnius. Also, on the freight segment, the section will attract a modest volume of freight, with a sufficient estimation of demand enough to operate 1 train every six days in Vilnius and 1 train every 11 days to Vilnius (along the section). However, the assumed basic service (on the freight segment) implies the delivery of a transport service a day to travel on each direction along the section to make sure the section provides a viable freight transport for operators.
The project brings economic benefits such as reducing the travel time, generating revenues while optimising traffic and reducing emissions (generated by road transport).
“I am pleased that experts’ conclusions have confirmed our arguments that Vilnius connection has an important economic factor for Lithuania and the whole Baltic region”, Lithuanian Minister of Transport Rimantas Sinkevicius said.
by Pamela Luică
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